Source Confusion — Zia Hassan

Function: The BIS is responsible for sensitivity to punishment, non-reward, and novel situations. It regulates avoidance behavior.
Emotional Responses: It is associated with feelings of anxiety, fear, and apprehension. When activated, it can lead to cautious or inhibited behavior.
Neurobiological Basis: The BIS is thought to involve brain regions such as the hippocampus and amygdala, which are associated with processing risk and fear.

Source Confusion The ice cream guy and the dentist from my childhood blend together in my head.

In my head they are the same person.

This is apparently known as source confusion:

The phenomenon you’re describing sounds like a form of “source confusion” or “misattribution of memory.” This occurs when a person remembers information but attributes it to the wrong source. In your case, the memory of the ice cream guy and the dentist have become intertwined, leading you to recall them as the same person in your childhood memories.